Top of the line knife manufacturers during the early part of the 20th century

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Who were the top of the line manufacturers of the early 1900's? Today's higher end cutlers are Great Eastern, Canal Street, Queen and the Bose collaborations from Case. What about back in the day? You don't have to post pics, but please, let's see some oldies but goodies to drool over :cool:.

Remington and Cattaraugus are the first to come to mind. I've seen some nice but well used Remingtons and Cattaraugus examples at shows and flea markets, and they still have that nice walk and talk.

Who else was at the top of their game?
 
I'm very curious to hear what the more experienced and knowledgeable collectors have to say about this.

As a relative newbie, I rather suspect questions of "quality" and being at "the top of their game" would be understood differently in different parts of the 20th century. For example, I would think 1900-WWII the primary issue would be economic survival of the company as mass production starts to become a reality. During the wars, especially during WWII, I would think the focus was primarily on retooling to support the war effort(s). Post WWII, I think the story might be on primarily of consolidation of US based manufacturing and challenges from the pacific rim, first Japan and then China.

In terms of the new golden era of really top end boutique knives like GEC and Canal Street that we see today, I wonder if the closest to our times would have been the roaring 20s and then 30s where wealth distributions were large and there was enough extra cash rolling around to make price differentiated stuff possible. Lastly, I wonder if the really top shelf stuff back then was coming out of small cutlery shops the names of which are fading into obscurity. This is really why I'm hoping the experienced collectors speak up on this. I wonder if there are small shop names from the past that serious collectors talk about in hushed tones.
 
Good thread idea, SHS!
Empire was one of the biggest and best, from about 1860 until ca. 1919, when the original family sold out.
They made many knives and parts on contract, as well as a stellar line under their own name. For a while, they were the biggest maker of knives for Shapleigh hardware distributors, among others.
Here is a pic of their famous Art-Deco styled saddlehorn in both Empire and Shapleigh D-E branding.
EmpireSibs 1.jpg
They also made razors and scissors, and, skeleton knives for the jewelry industry.
Here's a skeleton, followed by a pen skeleton made up into a 1909 commemorative.
Empire Skeleton 1.jpg
Empire sliver pen 1.jpgEmpire sliver pen 2.jpgEmpire sliver pen 3.jpg
 
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Nice knives waynorth. Pinnah, you asked a more informative question than I did, thanks for bringing that up. I am interested to hear from more experienced collectors here.
 
Charlie those saddlehorns really look like Bose/Case Arkansas Hunters. What a great design. Do ya think they inspired him?
 
Neal, Tony owned one many years ago, and I believe, regretted selling it. It may have been part of his inspiration, to re-create a design he quite enjoyed.
Pinnah, you have pointed to some divergent aspects of cutlery history that are very interesting.
Personally, economics is not my strongest subject, but I'm interested to hear that part of the story!
 
What a great idea for a thread. I really can't add anything to the discussion but I will be coming back often to learn whatever I can.

Nice knives Waynorth!
 
Charlie is right about Empire, they made some good ones. Based on my limited collection, a few other brands that represented high quality are Challenge
P5151321.jpg


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Southington (actually more into the late 19th century than early 20th)
P5151327.jpg


New York Knife Company
P5151339.jpg


H&B
P5151347.jpg


Ulster
P5151358.jpg


P5151384.jpg
 
I'm still learning, But I know Remington was one of the best, (As we all do)
And Robeson made some wonderful knives... Two of my favorite.
and let's not forget about Winchester and Keen Kutter.

Jason


Remington
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006-3.jpg


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KGrHqUOKnE2ekmIRBNqwV-49CQ_3.jpg


OldRemingtons009.jpg


Robeson

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Winchester

OldKnivesCramerSwayback031-1.jpg


015-5.jpg


Keen Kutter

KeenKutterSwellEndJack019.jpg


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According to an article written by one of the best knife historians Bernard Levine. The below knife companies were the biggest in the pocket knife market at the turn of the 20th century.

American Knife Co., Thomaston CT
American Shear & Knife Co., Hotchkissville CT
A. F. Bannister & Co., Newark NJ
Booth Bros., Stockholm NJ
Aaron Burkinshaw's Sons, Pepperell MA
Canton Cutlery Co., Canton OH
Cattaraugus Cutlery Co., Little Valley NY
Challenge Cutlery Co. (Wiebusch & Hilger), Bridgeport CT
Electric Cutlery Co. (Friedmann & Lauterjung), Newark NJ
Empire Knife Co., West Winsted CT
Griffon Cutlery Works (A. L. Silberstein & Co.), Bridgeport CT
Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville CT
Humason & Beckley Mfg. Co. (H. & B.), New Britain CT
Miller Bros. Cutlery Co., Meriden CT
New York Knife Co. (Hammer Brand), Walden NY
Northfield Knife Co. (UN-X-LD), Northfield CT
Novelty Cutlery Co. (Canton Knife Co.), Canton OH
Phoenix Knife Co., Phoenix NY
C. Platts & Sons, Eldred PA
Robeson Cutlery Co., Rochester & Perry NY
J. Russell & Co. (R/arrow), Turners Falls MA
Schatt & Morgan (S. & M.), Titusville PA
Charles Sherwood, Camillus NY
Southington Cutlery Co., Southington CT
Thomaston Knife Co., Thomaston CT
Tidioute Cutlery Co., Tidioute PA
Ulster Knife Co. (Dwight Divine & Sons), Ellenville NY
Valley Forge Cutlery Co. (sold to Boker 1899), Newark NJ
Walden Knife Co. (Press Button Knife Co.), Walden NY
Waterville Mfg. Co., Waterbury CT
 
This is not confined to American cutlers or?

Take a look at Wellington's thread on 'Sheffield a Golden Age.' My view is that Rodgers, Wostenholm and most other Sheffield cutlers could arguably be viewed as top of the range in quality before the end of The Great War in 1918. After that, decline and contraction set in due to the economic effects of the war,destruction of apprentice system and under investment etc etc.

Looking at the 'Old Knives' thread also gives us rich clues and hints, C.Noyes' collection of Robesons is remarkable and VCM3- Vince shows countless wonderful and unusual examples from the early C20th American cutlers: HSB, Empire, Hermitage, the very high quality N.Y.Knife Co/Hammer Brand American Shear&Knife and of course, the ancestors of GEC- Northfield and Tidioute from the early part of the last century.
 
My bad. Below are the leading international manufacturers from his list.

Brookes & Crookes (Bell)
G. & J. Butler & Co. (Art, Key)
John Clarke & Son (Wm. Rodgers, John Holmes)
Jonathan Crookes & Son (Heart and Pistol)
Thomas Ellin & Co. (Vulcan, Era J. Barber)
Joseph Elliott
Alexander Fraser & Co. (Fraser Knife, sold by Hudson's Bay Co.)
Enoch Furness & Sons
Harrison Bros. & Howson (Crown Alpha) (office in San Francisco)
George Ibberson & Co. (Violin, Double Sharp)
Charles Ibbotson & Co. (Slash, Early Bird)
Mappin & Webb (Trustworthy
Marshes & Sheperd (Pond Works)
Needham Bros. (Repeat)
Needham Veall & Tyzack (Taylor's Eye Witness)
Francis Newton & Sons (Premier, Swan)
John Newton & Co. (Manhattan Cutlery, Frog)
J. Nowill & Sons (Krosskeys, *D)
W. K. Peace Co. (Eagle)
Joseph Rodgers & Sons (Star & Cross)
Saynor Cooke & Ridal (Saynor, Obtain)
Singleton & Priestman
Slater Bros. (Bee Hive)
Southern & Richardson (Nest, Cigar, Squatter)
William Thomas Staniforth (Wings, Ascend)
Thomas Turner & Co. (Encore)
John Watts (B4*ANY)
Geo. Wostenholm & Son (I*XL
Gottlieb Hammesfahr (Pyramid)
J. A. Henckels (Twins)
Peter Daniel Krebs (Lobster)
Krusius Bros. (K. B. Extra, Primrose)
P. Daniel Peres (Barrel)
Wester & Butz
Franz Frenzel (F anchor F)
Ignaz Rosler's Sons (Crowned Eagle)
Demetrius Kondratov (Imperial Eagle), Vyatka
Alexis Zavialoff, Pavlov
 
Furious, can you supply the reference stats for that article? It sounds fascinating.

My thanks.
 
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